I apologize for not writing all week especially since I had not one but TWO snow days and therefore ample time to write! I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that the UK was hit with the biggest snow storm in over two decades and that basically the entire country shut down because of it.
The storm started last Sunday (February 1st) and it lasted through Monday. My classes were cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. This worked out great since Sunday was the Superbowl and I was up late here watching it with friends. The Superbowl was then followed by a snowball fight!
Where I am in London we couldn’t have gotten more than 5 inches of snow but the city completely shut down. It was actually pretty comical. There was no system to remove the snow from the walkways; instead it melted a bit, turned to ice etc. Buses were not running, and the subways were ridiculously delayed. Moreover, students on campus were overly excited about the snow and if you dared to venture outside you were promptly hit with an array of snowballs coming from every direction (from complete strangers.) If this was New York, the snow would have been removed immediately, the buses would definitely not have stopped running (but of course been delayed,) classes wouldn’t have been cancelled and if you hit a complete stranger with a snowball they’d curse you out or punch you in the face. Regardless though, it was sooooo nice having two days to sleep in and relax. I hung out with my friend C most of the time and enjoyed being silly and lazy.
Here’s the view from my window of some Brits engaged in a snowball fight!
Mile End Park is in the background looking especially beautiful covered in snow.
As you’ll recall, I was supposed to go to the opera with BC on Monday. We found out late afternoon that it was cancelled and that we could transfer our tickets to another day. Unfortunately, BC did not consult me first and he changed the tickets to Wednesday (which was the new opening night.) I had a presentation in class the next morning though on a book that was nearly 600 pages and in which my professor was an expert on. I still went to the opera with BC but was panicked about the presentation most of the time.
BC and I left around 5pm to head out to the opera. We got our tickets and had a quick meal and a glass of wine at a nice place around the corner. BC then insisted we grab a glass of champagne at the Skybar before the performance which we did. Two glasses of champagne cost over seventeen pounds. Thanks BC! I come from a humble background. I certainly did not need all of that but it was a very nice gesture.
Our seats where a bit closer than our original seats would have been. I had a great view of the stage. I was a bit disappointed a first that the Le Boheme was translated into English but it was actually quite interesting to see it performed this way. The actress who played Mimi was especially wonderful. Her voice was really breathtaking.
I had to sneak to take this picture and was quickly scolded for taking it. I wish I could have taken a better picture. The venue was gorgeous.
And to top it all off, I rocked my presentation the next morning!
-J
February 19, 2009 at 7:12 am
does it really exists a Nutella day??? that is so funny!!! I never heard of it.
Welcome to the fabulous world of traveling around with allergies….you never know what it is going to give you a bad reaction in the country you are visiting or living. I hope that from now on you will not have any problem anymore!